Saturday, November 21, 2009

Ottawa River Inukshuk

My wife and youngest on a walk along the Ottawa river.  These Inukshuk are left by locals and depict families.  Seemed appropriate to take a snap. 

There are over 30 of them and most are in the water just off the shore near the Laroch Park on the Ontario side.  Really beautiful. 

Makes for a wonderful place to put a face.


Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Letters behind a name, or, "What have you done lately?"


A good friend of mine, Peter Peets, described his route to photography and asked a question related to running a photography business.

"... any thoughts on getting photography accreditation - any value in that?"

Here's my long-winded 2c worth...
_________________________________________

Thank you for your comments, Peter. You’re very kind.

Your history with photography is a similar one I’ve heard from several photogs who in later years blossom into significant talents. It’s a passion that once ignited never goes out. Oddly enough, I too was in a high school camera club. I spent many spare periods in the darkroom inhaling chemicals and spinning spools of film. Uncharacteristically however, I did not move back into photography directly. It was only seven years ago that I took up sketching; mostly charcoal/pencil stuff.

It was while studying compositional rules and techniques for adding meaning and interest in artwork that it really dawned on me that photography uses the same principles. In fact, it represented for me a more pure form of art where manual dexterity (or lack thereof) did not limit the expression of a message. The wonder and curse of popular access to digital cameras and tools has allowed this form of art a flourishing growth. It’s opened vaults of artistic talent in millions of common folk. I love it.

You asked about the value of getting photography accreditation. As far as I can tell there are several reasons a photographer would seek accreditation:
1. To gain media access to events.
2. To impress and reassure clients.
3. To impress and reassure oneself.

Media access is a valuable thing if you’re after editorial work. I am associated with a sports photography company (Action Sport International) that gives me access to official events like games, marathons, etc. I haven’t done any events yet but look forward to the challenge. I’ve also approached a national magazine and may yet score something there.

Impressing clients is a funny thing. In truth, the best assurances for good work come from referrals. Nevertheless, a few letters on your business card and web site helps to give an overall image of professionalism. I’ve belonged to the local camera club which gives me membership to Canadian Association for Photographic Arts, CAPA. I also used a production company for wedding and portraits, Pictage. So, combined I could use the phrase, ‘accredited member of AIS, CAPA, and Pictage’. That’s a nice set of letters. Doesn’t change my images and as far as I can tell didn’t get any more clients but perhaps in an unseen way, it added credibility. Don’t know. The only real value I got was in access to their services such as mentoring/instruction, publications, etc. That’s definitely worth it.

Impressing myself is a constant challenge. Not that my standards are all that high but by nature of my own proximity to myself, I’ve seen everything before. (lol) Seriously, the greatest pleasure I get is in finding/making an image that, like a funny punch line, surprises me. It should happen more often and I’m working on stretching myself into new areas. Second greatest pleasure is having others see something of worth in these favourite shots. The last pleasure is getting paid for it so I can sustain this adventure.

In the end, it only matters what we are able to in the next photo shoot. Letters behind our name won't do that, just the gray matter behind the lens.


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Saturday, November 14, 2009

My country, my quiet Canada.

It was a beautiful, cold, fall morning here in Eastern Ontario. I was fortunate to capture some images of the gentle countryside out back of my local town. It's a hidden pastoral paradise five minutes from the din of high tech business.


Just beyond these trees (above) there was a field filled with geese gobbling their morning gossip. This cornfield offered rest, fallen kernels, and avian social networking. The concenus was that they didn't like my presense much and took to flight. The sound of wind raised by their wings swept across the fields.

Milky. That's the feeling I got when squinting into the sun's blast to see this morning field.


As I mentioned in a recent tweet, it's often a hit or miss thing with shooting landscape. In the field, you see things differently, more emotionally. The wideness of each vista is somehow able to spread beyond vision and into the heart. It's not often that I get the same feeling on reviewing the files on the computer. But this next one, with the bare trees against the sky, the turned fields flat and ready, the trimmed grass, they all speak of land bleak and bare; yet one that people have loved. To me, it came out close to what I felt.


I have another image I'm working on from a shoot several days ago. I'm not sure what I think of it. I'm letting it steep like tea. Time tells a better story. I hope to share it when it's ready.

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Tuesday, November 3, 2009

The Embrace

Bless the dark chill that drives lovers to embrace.


I stole this moment between two lovers,

Comforting each other in the last days of their lives.

Long struggles in the growing/living season,

Did not harvest in either a bitter fruit.

Even when left old with wind withered faces, leaves and stems gone slack,

I couldn't help but noticed, they had both grown a common heart.

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Thursday, October 29, 2009

Drama waiting and What I look like in the morning.

I love fall.
Even more, I love post-fall
leaves laid down for winter sleep
trees left naked in the wind.
Drama waiting. Wanting.
Click image for a larger view.

I couldn't help but recognize a bit of self in this next image. Mornings for me can be brutal and I often emerge from slumber disheveled and slightly out of sorts. Not grumpy, just not together yet. Arms go one way, nose seems part of my mouth, and a head that feels like its sticking out of another body part. Just like this image...
Click image for a larger view.

Poor fellow.

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Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Colour's Back!

As promised, here is a colour image of a fall landscape.
Click image for better detail.

After closing our summer camp for the year, I went for a walk in the nearby countryside. The atmosphere of quiet was defined not by audible levels but by the mind-calming smell of ripening leaves, cool touch of gusting winds, and moving visuals of cloud masses. It was the kind of pre-winter overcast day that tell your bones to slow down, chest to breath deep, and shoulders to let slip summers rush. It's time for knit sweaters, warm homemade soup, and fresh baked bread. (That's just what was waiting for me at home.)

Here's my discovery of colour in a field of wild flowers. It looked just like this too and I was thrilled it came out so well (IMHO). Rarely does a picture match what the mind sees: a flash of memories from childhood romps through wild grasses and flowers. I see cartoon-like patterns of pale grasses mixed with pastel flowers arrayed in patterns that dance across the field. It's a simple beauty.
Click image for better detail.

I look forward to the challenge of translating this to a large-format print and see if the vision survives.

Cheers to you and a happy Thanksgiving!


Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Colour's a thief.

Fall finally arrived and outdoor pictures have come to life. Colours abound. It's dream-time.

I've waited and waited for an interesting-looking morning. Early this week one appeared with fog and everything. There were colourful leaves, great foreground and background elements, and did I mention fog. I grabbed about a hundred images, raced back home to eagerly process them and then... bam! THEY CAME OUT BLACK AND WHITE.


Well, not on their own. I helped.

I just can't stop myself sometimes. I edited lots and lots of shots with colour but kept seeing them in a simpler format. I wanted to emphasis the compositional elements. The fog is a wonderful back curtain limiting the depth of field and far-background distractions. The light was coming in from the rising sun which was burning off the ground fog. The fields were wet with dew and held contrast. The wild flowers, bush, and tall grass gave foreground anchorage and interesting details. It was near perfect. If it only wasn't for those colourful leaves. Colour was stealing the eye and so he wasn't allowed in the picture.

In the coming weeks, I'll sincerely try and let some colour in. Till then, hope you enjoy these. Here's another fav.

Monday, September 14, 2009

The Super Fan, Tanya.

During Bluesfest every year, a bunch of friends of mine stake out key spots at our favorite venues and settle in for many-a-night of musical bliss. We bring lawn chairs, coolers, food, drinks, umbrellas, and even tarps in case of rain. Nothing stops us. We are fans.
Ben Harper at BluesFest 2009

This year our 'fan' quotant was bested by a young enthusiast who showed us how to rock. We watched her out of the corner of our eyes in the section beside us. She was right up front and filled with a glow for Ben Harper. From the first pluck of the strings and uttered words, she was all there!Tanya the Super Fan

In fact, the words of every song was on her lips and the first notes of every piece got her hopping with excitement. It was contagious. Those nearby gave room to see her groove. We were all swept away in the catchy fun of her 'Ben' world.
Front and Centre, Tanya knew every lyric.

Throughout night, it was evident that Ben too noticed this 'SUPER FAN'. It would have been impossible to miss. After a rousing encore, Ben picked her out of the crowd and passed down his mini-tamberine thingy directly to her.
Ben makes eye contact with Tanya at the end of his encore.

We all thought it was a class-act on his part but what a thrill to watch her reaction! It brought a smile to all of us.She couldn't believe it.
(Neither could her friends. Here's photo-evidence guys.)

A major part of the fun that night was watching her raptured enjoyment of Ben. Thank you Tanya for showing us how to rock.



PS. Some additional photos...

Ben Harper's attention to craft impressed me.
Tanya's deeply soulful experience impressed us all.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Beat of the Earth.

There's a deep quiet in the underbrush near my summer camp. It lies there unobserved by the motorized world.

Hidden to the day-time hiker, it's buried by nearby highway tire noise and revving rumbles.

It comes to the dawn-treader awake before the rising throb of human life. If this privileged audience walks carefully awed and clean washed from brashness they can hear earth’s song; a tune that tickles awareness with suspicion that it’s there.

Long thrumming, low humming, single syllables that sound for days and come out of the rocks and into the roots and up the tree trunks.

It's the beat of the earth.
Click for larger image.

There really is a humming sound that the earth makes. It's caused by very long ocean waves acting against the ocean floor off the western coast of North America and to a lesser extent Northern Europe. An article in WIRED magazine describes this hum or vibration. It's at a frequency of about 10 milli-hertz which is twelve octives below the lowest audible music note, E. It has only recently been measured and it's source located. Cool, eh!

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Thursday, July 23, 2009

BluesFest 2009

Well it's taken a few days, but the glow has faded. BluesFest is over for another year.

There were so many big-name artists this year that it was hard to see them all. We did get to see Joe Cocker, Styx, Jackson Browne, Ben Harper, Blue Rodeo, and of course KISS. One of my favourite artist was there too, Matt 'Stubby Fingers' Anderson.

Matt Andersen in a blur as usual. Freakin' amazing player, singer, entertainer.

Here's some more performers...

Blue Rodeo.

More Blue Rodeo.

Great performance. Loved it.


I just thought he was a cool guy.


I’ve served as a volunteer photographer for two years so far. This year there were five photographers covering the festival with an assignment to capture each of the 30 roles volunteers perform. What a blast! The images were used in a daily online newsletter, for a slideshow at the volunteer appreciation party, and for various promo ads throughout the year.

Here's some of over 100 images I submitted.

Volunteers working at the Internet Cafe

The crew at the wine cafe.

These are the 'Alternate' volunteers, the minute men of the the north.
Ready to race off and fill in the gaps at a moments notice.



Sometimes it's not all fun and games.
These alternates are waiting it out at the 'Village', dreaming of their next assignment.

Another great assignment is to park bikes all day long. Work, work, work...


After or before each shift, we were served an excellent meal at the Volunteer Village where performers entertain on an ‘open-mic’ stage. Really chill!

Volunteers relaxing at the Village

At the village, conversations are easy among fellow volunteers taking a break. There’s a common feel among us that’s very positive and fun. Some I spoke to have been doing this for 9 years and have developed friendships here that have extended beyond the festival.

Our friend, Fran being the boss lady at a beer tent.

Our friend, Jennifer, explaining something cool to
my wife, Joey, and another friend, Lori.


I can't wait for next year. Till then...


Thursday, June 25, 2009

Fine Art Printing Workshop

Last weekend I attended my first photography workshop. I've been to various lectures and meetings and trade shows on photography but this is the first time I've paid to have a professional photography pass on his/her expert knowledge. It was worth every cent.


Andrew Collett has a studio in Port Carling Ontario, a small town right next to Algonquin Park. He specializes in beautiful landscape images of the north and is especially known for his work within the park. The workshop class was small (7 of us) which allowed direct interaction with him in an intimate environment. It was conducted in the studio work area surrounded by all the tools of his trade: several Epson printers, frame-cutters, hanging/spraying room, canvas stretcher, matt cutters, etc.

We were asked to bring along a few raw files of images we would work on in the course. Most of the attendees were well established amateur landscape artists and brought amazing images. After this weekend, I felt like a rank novice in the world of outdoor/landscape imagery. Something I hope to improve on with some exercises over the summer and another one of his 'in-the-field' courses in the fall.

One by one the others brought their images onto the main computer for class discussion. My inexperience in the capture and handling of outdoor scenes became evident as successive students displayed their prize images. The distraction gave some opportunity for an emergency dive back into my small collection of archive images on the laptop. I slipped in one picture from a business trip the week before and another taken in panic on the morning drive to the studio.
Click on image for a larger view.
Naval Test Facility at Dodge Pond, CT.


Click on image for a larger view.
Roadside on the way to Workshop.

Andrew instructed us on image editing for print preparation. His fine touch was evident in the minor adjustments that, while appearing subtle, made all the difference in the final printed product. This included exposure and black point, white balance, curves, input/output sharpening, and a few other adjustments.

His understanding of the various print media led to selecting various subject images for a matching paper type. The test facility one above for instance is very contrasty and benefited from a glossy print to bring out the deep blacks and sharp edges. The roadside image was suited for a canvas media.

Finally, his framing and canvas wrap techniques were really cool. Canvas mirror wrapping, protective coating, stretching, and mounting were done very efficiently with two methods. He also demonstrated glass-cutting, matting, and framing. Those who had images printed out left with their artwork either framed or canvas wrapped.

Check out some of the fun here in a slideshow.

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Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Spring Walk

Spring's New Life. This past Victoria Day weekend, we set up our camp and enjoyed the new life around us. Spring reminds us that life triumphs everything. New grass, new buds, tracks in the warm mud, and secrets coming out of holes in the ground. It's a time to discover just how irrepressible the seeds of life are!

The flowers! There's a flood of colours and variety this year. Ottawa's Tulip Festival is a highlight of our nation's annual display of gratitude from a wartime friend-nation, the Netherlands. Though that dark war is long past, the springs that followed are the repeating "I told you so" reminder that every winter ends. Boys target dandelions instead of brothers.

Fresh Mud. While looking down to mind my way, I discovered impressions of past explorers. From animal, man, and automobile come marks that sign to us, "I've been here."











Fraggle Rock!
Like the magical hidden world where Fraggles live, there's glowing hints of subterranean kingdoms in culverts and holes. Spring brings the possibility of new discoveries.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

KellyLee Evans at Lorne and Lori's


Another house concert at Lorne and Lori's place. Yes, and this time it was one of our favourites, KellyLee Evans. Check out her website.

She's an amazing local talent with 2007 Juno and Gemini Award nominations as a singer-songwriter. Some of my favourite songs are "Rapunzel", "Let's Call A Truce Tonight", and "Help Me Help You".

After setting up in the corner of the yard by the house, her band started cranking it up and Kellylee started into her set. The neighbors had their chairs out and listened along with the guests that filled the back yard.

She had her stories and friendly banter. A tale about how she cut her finger. You can see that bandage in the slideshow.

After more than an hour, she and her band quickly packed up, chatted with the guests, and headed off to their next gig at the Ottawa Tulip Festival. Busy night!

Check out more images from the evening here.

What's next? Some suggestions were made and I wouldn't be surprised if another favourite sing-songwriter will be dropping by before summer's end.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Matt Andersen Strikes Again!


Matt Andersen hit the Black Sheep Inn in Wakefield BIG TIME. What a night! He played solid for two hours and had the crowd whispering his words, clapping and finger snapping the beat, belly-laughing at his self-deprecating wit, and at the end howling for more.

He is a huge talent in an extra large shirt.



His interpretation of Bruce Springsteen's song, "I'm on Fire" was soulful and as one fan piped, "...better than original!"

Matt is on a cross Canada journey in his van. He has a very ambitious schedule and you can see it here along with his Tour Diary.

Neil McDaniel started the night. He is a fellow New Brunswick'er. Nice performance. Later he accompanied Matt on the keyboard. Check out his site here.


If you've never heard of Matt, track him down. Check out his site at www.stubbyfingers.ca . He's coming to Blues Fest in Ottawa this summer. A MUST see.

More photos of the night, some friends, and Lucy-the-bar-dog here.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

A View from Civilization


Click image for larger view...

...just finished watching the climatic end of Battlestar Galatica. I've watched this from it's beginning in my dorm in the 1980's with a packed crowd of RMC cadets (mostly Engineers and artsie types) hanging on every word. I've watched it with grown kids in my home in the 2000's. I've watched as 'Everything that has happened will happen again." :-)

On a walk-about downtown, I slipped across the bridge to the Museum of Civilization. Saw this panorama while looking across the river and thought of the cycle of things; how power & pride revolve around fall & ruin and sweep back into building & growth. Not a desperately sad thought if you realize we always find a way to pick up and carry on. Quite an amazing thing... this cycle we as individuals follow, as families, as nations.

It struck me that our nation's captial buildings are framed on one side by buildings filled with a history of civilization and on the other a bridge between two cultural nations. One side of this bridge is rooted in a city forest of buildings, the other extends to trees and nature. Kinda artsy but in context of this theme of cycles it resonated.

Here's a few others in a slideshow. Hope you enjoy.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Blacksheep Inn, 12 March 2009

Another great experience at the Blacksheep Inn in Wakefield Quebec.

Fairly often, a group of our friends get together at local events to enjoy various Canadian Blues talent. One of our favs is Steven Fearing who appeared last Thursday at the Blacksheep Inn.



Accompanying him this time was fellow maritimer Catherine MacLennan. A great evening!


For more pictures of these two, jump to the slides.

Dan Ward

My photo
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada